November 29, 2010
When Kerry O’Neill Tice ’94SVC is enjoying the pleasure of
watching her children open their gifts on Christmas morning, she’ll
also be enjoying the special sense of satisfaction that comes from
knowing that she has helped to share the holiday spirit with other
families as well. For many years, this caring alumna, along with
many members of her family, has made Christmas merry for others by
participating in the St. John’s Bread and Life Sponsor-A-Family
program, a generous initiative that provides Christmas meals and
gifts for less fortunate families within the community.
“I’m
one of six children,” she said, “so my immediate family is pretty
large. As the years have gone by, we’ve managed to bring more and
more people with us to help with Sponsor-A-Family, and last year
I’d say we had about 25 of us who came to Bread and Life to help
with the food and toys. We know that we’re helping others, and we
walk away feeling like this is what Christmas is really all about.
It helps us to truly remember what Jesus is asking us to do in
terms of service to our fellow man.”
Her commitment to service actually began during her student days at
St. John’s University. In addition to serving as Vice President of
the Mixed Chorus and singing at parishes throughout New York City,
she was active in Campus Ministry and participated in a number of
retreats where students could reflect on their Vincentian values
and strengthen their relationship with God. Those values continue
to serve as an important part of her life, and she is happy for the
opportunity to pass them along to her children.
“I learned so much about myself and really grew spiritually at St.
John’s,” she recalled. “I definitely feel an obligation to give to
others what was given to me, and so no matter how busy my family
and I are we set aside a day to help at Sponsor-A-Family. Helping
others fills our hearts with joy and teaches our children so many
important lessons. As the little ones get older they have so many
questions, and when they walk away they realize that they have food
on their table and a roof over their head, things that too many
other people don’t have. It really puts things into perspective for
them, and it’s a great way for me to put my Vincentian values into
practice.”
For
Kerry and many of her siblings, the University has always been
their second family, and will forever hold a special place in their
hearts. Her personal desire to give back is grounded on what was
done for her even before she became a student.
“I had my heart set on going to another college,” she said, “but it
wasn’t a good time for my parents financially. Once I received a
partial scholarship from St. John’s, I decided to go there, and it
was the best decision that I’ve ever made. I met and married my
husband at St. John’s, and my sister also met her husband there.
St. John’s is such a family environment, and the University gave so
much to me that the St. John’s family will always be my second
family.”
Although she has never personally met any of the families that she
has helped to sponsor over the years, they are never far from her
mind, especially at Christmas. “My husband and I definitely think
about them on Christmas morning,” she noted. “Going into Bread and
Life awakens us to a world that we don’t see on a daily basis, and
we have a responsibility to remember that world and do what we can
to give back to it. The feeling that we have inside to know that we
are making someone else’s day a little brighter, a little better
and a little easier is such a wonderful thing. For us, Christmas is
about our own family, our St. John’s family and the families that
are having a joyful holiday because we did what we could to make
that happen.”
If you would like to participate in St. John’s Bread and Life
Sponsor-A-Family, please visit www.breadandlife.org/sponsorafamily